Read the paragraph and choose a sentence that describes it best. People have considered the possibility that the missing colonists could have assimilated into nearby Native American tribes since at least 1605. If this integration was successful, the assimilated colonists would gradually exhaust their European supplies (ammunition, clothing) and discard European culture (language, style of dress, agriculture) as Algonquian lifestyle became more convenient. Colonial era Europeans observed that many people removed from European society by Native Americans for substantial periods of time—even if captured or enslaved—were reluctant to return; the reverse was seldom true. Therefore, it is reasonable to postulate that, if the colonists were assimilated, they or their descendants would not seek reintegration with subsequent English settlers.
a) The English colonists most certainly assimilated into Native American tribes, leaving their culture behind
b) The Native American culture is superior to English, as a little few Englishmen returned once assimilated
c) The English colonists assimilated with the Native Americans because their supplies of clothes, ammunition etc., exhausted
d) Once integrated into another culture, assimilated people feel disdain to their roots.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: c) The English colonists assimilated with the Native Americans because their supplies of clothes, ammunition etc., exhausted
Explanation (300+ words):
The paragraph discusses a theory regarding the fate of the lost English colonists of Roanoke. It focuses on the possibility that these colonists assimilated into local Native American tribes, specifically the Algonquian-speaking groups. The idea of assimilation is supported by logical reasoning about the gradual depletion of European supplies and the cultural shift that might follow such a change in environment.
The paragraph suggests that, if the colonists did indeed assimilate, they would have gradually abandoned European practices—including language, dress, and agriculture—because the Algonquian way of life was more practical and sustainable in their new context. The text also provides evidence from historical observations, stating that Europeans who were absorbed into Native American societies were often reluctant to return, even if they had been captured or enslaved. This implies that Native American culture may have offered some advantages or a sense of belonging that European culture could not provide in those circumstances.
Option (c) correctly reflects the content of the paragraph. It highlights the practical reason (the exhaustion of European supplies such as clothes and ammunition) for why the colonists might have adapted to the Native American way of life. This is not just about preference but about survival and practicality, which is central to the passage’s argument.
Option (a) makes an absolute claim (“most certainly”), which the passage does not. It speculates and uses words like “reasonable to postulate,” indicating possibility, not certainty.
Option (b) draws a value judgment by saying one culture is “superior,” which the paragraph does not state or imply. It only notes behavioral patterns.
Option (d) suggests emotional disdain for original roots, which is also not supported. The reluctance to return is presented as circumstantial, not emotional.
Hence, option (c) is the best summary.
